Soul Collector MTG Card


Destroys creatures in combat, gains their abilities, enhancing card and battlefield advantage. Requires discard for full potential, demands black mana, which may limit deck options. Its combat resurrection offers a strategic edge, making it worthwhile for black-centric decks.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Vampire
Abilities Flying,Morph
Power 3
Toughness 4

Text of card

Flying Whenever a creature dealt damage by Soul Collector this turn is put into a graveyard, return that card to play under your control. Morph (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)


Cards like Soul Collector

Within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Soul Collector presents a unique twist on creature retrieval mechanics. Its closest relatives in terms of functionality include Hell’s Caretaker and Phyrexian Reclamation. Both cards offer resilience by reclaiming creatures from the graveyard, yet Soul Collector has an edge with its combat-triggered ability, which doesn’t require additional mana during your turn. Hell’s Caretaker necessitates a sacrifice and only operates on your upkeep, making it a predictable and sometimes costly option.

Similarly, Phyrexian Reclamation ensures a steady flow of creatures from the graveyard to your hand, at the expense of life and mana. Though efficient, it lacks the combat advantage of Soul Collector that can turn the tide during skirmishes. Another similar card, Coffin Queen, offers recurring grave-robbing prospects. However, Soul Collector’s free creature-stealing ability during combat provides a tactical advantage Coffin Queen can’t match, as it also demands mana for activation and only targets opponent’s creature cards.

When evaluating these options, Soul Collector stands out, providing a clever tactical edge in combat scenarios that can surprise opponents and shift the momentum of the game in your favor without draining resources.

Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Reclamation - MTG Card versions
Coffin Queen - MTG Card versions
Hell's Caretaker - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Reclamation - MTG Card versions
Coffin Queen - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Soul Collector by color, type and mana cost

Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
Entropic Specter - MTG Card versions
Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions
Fallen Angel - MTG Card versions
Stone Catapult - MTG Card versions
Sengir Vampire - MTG Card versions
Coffin Puppets - MTG Card versions
Hollow Dogs - MTG Card versions
Grotesque Hybrid - MTG Card versions
Earwig Squad - MTG Card versions
Indulgent Tormentor - MTG Card versions
Sootfeather Flock - MTG Card versions
Zombie Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Gluttonous Zombie - MTG Card versions
Vermiculos - MTG Card versions
Woebearer - MTG Card versions
Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Halo Hunter - MTG Card versions
Malakir Bloodwitch - MTG Card versions
Caustic Crawler - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Vampire - MTG Card versions
Entropic Specter - MTG Card versions
Predatory Nightstalker - MTG Card versions
Fallen Angel - MTG Card versions
Stone Catapult - MTG Card versions
Sengir Vampire - MTG Card versions
Coffin Puppets - MTG Card versions
Hollow Dogs - MTG Card versions
Grotesque Hybrid - MTG Card versions
Earwig Squad - MTG Card versions
Indulgent Tormentor - MTG Card versions
Sootfeather Flock - MTG Card versions
Zombie Cutthroat - MTG Card versions
Gluttonous Zombie - MTG Card versions
Vermiculos - MTG Card versions
Woebearer - MTG Card versions
Wei Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Halo Hunter - MTG Card versions
Malakir Bloodwitch - MTG Card versions
Caustic Crawler - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Soul Collector presents a unique mechanism that offers a significant edge in card advantage. When this creature successfully destroys another creature in combat and survives, it allows you to reanimate the defeated creature, effectively swiping an opponent’s resource and adding it to your battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: By converting enemy creatures into your assets without expending additional cards from your hand, Soul Collector accelerates your resource accumulation. This effectively bypasses the need for casting additional creature spells and saves your mana for other strategic plays or disruption.

Instant Speed: Soul Collector’s ability triggers at instant speed upon dealing combat damage, giving you the flexibility to immediately exploit the newly acquired creature card. This can catch your opponent off guard as you can potentially block, destroy, and extract value from an attacker all in a single combat phase.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To fully utilize Soul Collector’s potential, you often need to discard a card. This prerequisite can hinder your strategic options, especially if your hand is already running low on cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Soul Collector demands a precise combination of black mana to cast. This makes it less versatile, as it requires a dedicated black mana base, which might not seamlessly fit into all deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in with a notable investment of mana, Soul Collector could be considered costly for its abilities. Players may find that other creatures or spells can achieve similar or better results without such a significant mana expenditure.


Reasons to Include Soul Collector in Your Collection

Versatility: Soul Collector adds strategic depth to decks that focus on creature control and recursion. Its ability to return to the battlefield makes it a persistent threat that fits well into various black-centric strategies.

Combo Potential: Featuring a potent synergy with sacrificial and death-trigger themes, Soul Collector can be a key piece in combos that revolve around creature death, enabling you to gain control of opponents’ creatures and exploit ETB (Enter the Battlefield) effects.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creatures are prevalent, having Soul Collector in your arsenal gives you an edge by disrupting opponent board states and turning their creatures against them, making it a valuable addition to your collection.


How to beat

Soul Collector is a unique creature card that can turn the tide of battle in Magic: The Gathering. When this formidable card enters the battlefield, it introduces a tactical element, particularly through its potent ability to resurrect after a skirmish. One key strategy to counteract Soul Collector is to avoid creature combat where Soul Collector thrives. Instead, direct removal spells that don’t involve combat damage can effectively neutralize this threat.

Cards like Murder, Path to Exile, or Go for the Throat can bypass Soul Collector’s strength by removing it without triggering its ability. Additionally, exile effects are particularly powerful against Soul Collector, ensuring that it can’t return to haunt you later in the game. Strategic planning and a well-timed removal can prevent Soul Collector from becoming an insurmountable obstacle, keeping you one step ahead in your quest for victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Soul Collector MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Scourge, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Soul Collector and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Soul Collector Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2003-05-26 and 2006-10-06. Illustrated by Matthew D. Wilson.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 362681997NormalBlackMatthew D. Wilson
22003-05-26ScourgeSCG 741997NormalBlackMatthew D. Wilson
32003-05-26Scourge PromosPSCG 741997NormalBlackMatthew D. Wilson
42006-10-06Time Spiral TimeshiftedTSB 471997NormalBlackMatthew D. Wilson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Soul Collector has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Soul Collector card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2004-10-04 The ability only triggers if this card is face up at the time the creature is put into the graveyard.